Fla. fisheries authority to lead national office

BOSTON — A high-ranking fisheries authority in Florida is taking over the top post at the embattled federal fisheries law enforcement office.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Monday that Bruce Buckson has been named head of that office.

Buckson is an FBI National Academy graduate and since 2007 has been deputy director of the law enforcement division at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Buckson succeeds acting director Alan Risenhoover

NOAA’s fishery law enforcement agency was heavily criticized after a federal review found financial mismanagement and abusive treatment of fishermen in the Northeast by some officers. In May, the U.S. Commerce Secretary ordered $650,000 in unjust fines returned to fishermen.

The former director, Dale Jones, was replaced last year after ordering dozens of documents shredded during the federal review.